Razor-strop.



No. 683,829; Patented Oct. I, I901.

C. E. WOOD, Decd.

K. F. WOOD, Administratrix.

RAZOR STRDPQ (Application filed May 16, 1901.)

(No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KATIE F. WOOD, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ADMINISTRATRIX OF CHARLES E. WOOD, DECEASED.

RAZOR- SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 683,829, dated. October 1, 1901.

Application filed May 16, 1901. Serial No. 60,790. (No model.)

To (tZZ w/"wnt it Wmy concern.-

Be it known that CHARLES E. WVOOD, deceased, late a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, (KATIE F. WOOD, administratrix,) did invent a new and useful Improvement in Razor-Strops, of which the following is declared to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to razor-sharpening devices; and its object is to provide mechanical means forguiding the strop and the razor, whereby the work of sharpening the razor may be accurately and expeditiously done even by an unskilled operator.

To this end the invention consists in the construction and combination of parts forming a razor-strop hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a face view of a razor-strop holding a razor as in operation according to the invention. Fig. II is an elevation of the same looking at the farther end of Fig. I, with the razor in cross-section at the shank.

Numeral 3 represents the body, adapted to be fastened to the wall or to a table by means of common wood-screws i and having projecting ears 5.

6 is a cradle pivoted at 7 to rock between the ears 5 and having inwardly-curved sides 8, adapted to press closely against the sides of a razor-blade 9 to hold the same firmly when it is pushed endwise into the cradle.

10 represents a pair of strop-guiding bars made of stiif wire, with U-shaped ends 11, that are pivoted at 12 to rock between the ears 5 and connected by rods 13 with the cradle 6, whereby a very little movement of the bars 10 will rock the cradle to its full limit of motion. This limit is fixed by a stop-gage 14, which is fitted to slide up and down on one of the ears 5 and has shoulders 15 for the cradle to abut against. The gage is vertically slotted at 16 to receive a binding-screw 17, by means of which the gage may be firmly fixed when set in the position desired.

18 represents the strop proper, consisting of a leather strap of a style commonly used for such purposes, but having a handle 19,

shaped at each end, while such strops usually have a handle at only one end and a hole or loop at the other end to be hitched to ahook on the wall. The strop is to be placed face inward over the bars 10 and under the cradle or the pivot-bar 7.

To use this strop, the operator has only to open the razor, push the blade into the cradle 6, and then holding the strop firmly, one end in each hand, draw it lengthwise to and fro, carrying the right hand down a little, as it is natural to do when drawing the strop to the right, the left hand being naturally raised a little to permit the strop to be thus pulled along, and then carrying the left hand down and the right hand up when drawing the strop to the left. The strop thus operated bears first on the right-hand bar 10 and rocks it, with the cradle and the blade in the cradle, so that the right face of the blade is rubbed by the strop. Then when pulled to the left the strop bears on the left bar 10 and rocks it, with the cradle and blade, so that the left face of the blade is rubbed by the strap, as shown inthe drawings. If the gage 14 15 be set higher, the cradle will rock less and a thinner edge will be given to the razor, and if the gage be set lower a more rounded and blunt edge will be formed on the razor. The gage also enables this machine to be set for blades of different widths.

The working of this machine is so automatic and perfect that an assistant may be stropping the razors not in service while skilled hands are busy using other razors that have been sharpened, or as this stropping device is inexpensive each owner of a razor may have one and keep his razor in perfect working order.

If the bars 10 were separate and independently pivoted near the point 12, or if the bars joined in one piece, as shown, were connected to the cradle by a single stiff rod 13, the invention would not be materially altered, or the connection between the guide-bars and cradle might be so arranged that bearing down on the right-hand end of the strap would rock the cradle to the left; butsuch connections as will tip the cradle the way the strop is being borne down are preferred as being the most natural.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I believe to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. In razor-strops, a cradle to hold the razor blade and pivoted to rock in bearings; a stropguide comprising two bars located along beside and above the cradle and pivoted to rock in bearings located near the bearings of the cradle; stops to limit the rocking movement of the cradle; connection between the guidebars and the cradle whereby the rocking of the bars will rock the cradle, and a flexible strap mounted to slide over the said bars and nnderthe cradle, substantially as described. 

